"I know Sheldon Adelson, he's not in this for money. He's not in this to make money, he's in this because he's got certain ideological views," Reid said in an interview with MSNBC which aired on Thursday. Reid said Adelson's views on certain social issues actually align with Democrats.

"So Sheldon Adelson, don't pick on him, he's not in it to make money," Reid said.

Adelson is a major figure in Reid's state. He's chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., which owns the Venetian and Palazzo casinos in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Sun noted that Adelson has "almost $39 billion to his name" and Forbes listed him as the eighth-wealthiest person in the world.

Adelson was a major funder to Republican presidential candidates in the 2012 presidential cycle and was the primary donor behind Newt Gingrich's super PAC. Adelson donated $15 million to the pro-Gingrich super PAC and spent over $90 million on Republican presidential campaigns according to The Washington Post.